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CV12

Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) Channel

Center of the Stomach

中脘Zhōng Wǎn

Anatomical location

On the midline, 4 cun above the navel.

Main function

Regulates the Stomach and Spleen, eliminates stagnation.

  • Stomach Front-Mu point
  • Influential (Hui) point of the Fu organs
  • Crossing point with the Small Intestine and Triple Energizer

Therapeutic indications

  • Stomach pain
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • abdominal distension
  • heartburn
  • indigestion
  • poor appetite
  • diarrhea
  • constipation
  • insomnia
  • dizziness
  • profuse expectoration
  • Ménière's disease
  • diabetes mellitus (Xiao Ke)
  • obesity and overweight
  • hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol and triglycerides)
  • irritable bowel syndrome
  • ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease
  • fatty liver
  • gallstones and biliary colic
  • gastroesophageal reflux
  • polycystic ovary syndrome
  • chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

Name and classical tradition

Zhongwan, 中脘, is the "Center of the Stomach." 中 is the center; 脘 is the gastric cavity. It lies at the midpoint of the epigastric region, between CV13 and CV10, and the name is transparent.

Its most meaningful alias is 太倉, the "great granary." The Lingshu (Spiritual Pivot), in the chapter Zhang Lun (脹論), says "胃者，太倉也," the stomach is the great granary, and the Nanjing (Classic of Difficulties), in Difficulty 45, when listing the eight Influential Points, places the meeting of the Fu organs in that granary: "腑會太倉." Those texts speak of the concept, but tradition identified the taicang with this point, which is the Influential (Hui) point of the Fu organs (腑會) and the Front-Mu point (募穴) of the Stomach. It is worth distinguishing between the origin of the concept and the origin of the point's name.

Wang Shuhe's Maijing (Pulse Classic) writes it 中管, and the sources are divided between that work and the Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing (Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) as the first mention. The reference works also record 上紀, 胃脘, and minor graphic variants such as 胃管 or 三管.

Other names

  • 太倉Jiayi Jing
Location of point CV12, Center of the Stomach
CC BY-ND 4.0 (opens in a new tab)
View point on the 3D modelCV12 on the anatomy
Needling techniquePerpendicular insertion 0.8-1.5 cun.
Depth0.8-1.5 cun
MoxibustionApplicable (5-10 cones or 10-20 minutes, indirect moxa)
PrecautionsAvoid deep needling so as not to injure internal organs.

Patterns that use it · 15

Classical combinations · 4

  • The Eight Influential Points八会穴Bā Huì XuéInfluential (Hui) point of each substance or tissue: Zang LR13, Fu CV12, Qi CV17, Blood BL17, tendons GB34, vessels LU9, bones BL11, marrow GB39.
  • Back-Shu points of the Middle JiaoBack-Shu points of the Spleen and Stomach with the Front-Mu point of the Fu organs: strengthens digestion from the front and the back.
  • Transform Phlegm and stop coughThe Luo-Connecting point of the Stomach cuts off Phlegm production at its source; the Mu and Shu points clear it from the chest.
  • Stop nausea and vomitingHarmonizes the Stomach and descends rebellious Qi.

Basic formulas from the vademecum · 7

View the vademecum

Named functional sets from the school: here the point does not act on its own, but through the role it plays within the maneuver.

  • Regulate the MiddleR.C.Restores the Spleen-Stomach axis: CV12 as the Front-Mu point of the Stomach and Influential point of the Fu organs, and ST36 as the He-Sea point and Earth point of the channel. This is the foundational maneuver for the Middle Jiao.
  • Regulate the Middle and the YangmingR.C.Y.PregnancyThe previous formula plus LI4, which brings the entire Yangming axis (Large Intestine and Stomach) into the governance of the Center. It opens the exterior and gives an outlet to what the Center mobilizes.
  • Influential Point of the Fu OrgansInfluential (Hui) point of the Fu organs: it governs the six hollow organs from the Front-Mu point of the Stomach, the first of them.
  • Meeting of EnergiesThe three Mu points of the central axis, one for each Jiao: CV17 for the Qi of the chest, CV12 for the Center, and CV5, the Front-Mu point of the Triple Energizer, in the lower abdomen. It gathers the Qi of the three cavities into a single treatment.
  • Tonify the Middle EnergizerThe two Mu points (CV12 for the Stomach, LR13 for the Spleen) with their two Back-Shu points (BL21 and BL20): the Shu-Mu technique applied to the entire Spleen-Stomach axis.
  • WarmingMoxibustion on the Center and the sea of Qi: it warms the Yang of the Middle Jiao and roots it in the lower abdomen.
  • Tonify EnergyRaises the Qi from its root to its summit: GV4 and BL23 kindle the Mingmen, CV6 is the sea of Qi, CV12 and ST36 produce the acquired Qi, and CV17 gathers it in the chest.
Cover of the guide “Protocols for the 20 most common patterns”

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Protocols for the 20 patterns you see most in practice

Each pattern with its tongue, its pulse, the treatment principle and the points to tonify and disperse. Made for the treatment table, not the bookshelf.

Do you use CV12 with your patients?

In the Clinic you record it in the patient's file, next to the tongue, the pulse and the measurements, so at the next session you know exactly what you used. The Atlas is built in.

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